Fresno men accused of forcing girl into prostitution in SD County

Three men were arrested in Ventura over the weekend after a teen called police to report she had been forced into prostitution while in San Diego County, authorities said.

The 17-year-old girl told officers the men held her captive in the county for three days at the end of last week, and that they threatened to hurt her if she didn’t comply, Sgt. Terry Medina said.

On Saturday morning, they all drove to Ventura and and checked into a room at the La Quinta Inn on Valentine Road, the victim told police. She fled and called the National Human Trafficking Center hotline from about a block away, Medina said. The call was transferred to police.

The teen was able to provide descriptions of the men, their vehicle and a possible room number where they were staying. Detectives located three suspects as they came out of the hotel, and arrested them soon after during a high-risk stop, Medina said.

A loaded handgun was found in the stopped vehicle.

Officers also located two Fresno women, ages 19 and 21, in the hotel room where the men had been staying, Medina said. They were interviewed by police and ultimately released.

The three men, identified as Brian Lewis, 21, Dashawn Jackson, 18, and Dameon Howard, 20, were booked into jail on suspicion of felony human trafficking and conspiracy charges. Lewis also faces a felony gun charge.

The men were also Fresno residents. It’s unclear where the teen lived.